Queensland

The crew left Garbutt Airfield in Townsville at 2300LT on September 17 on a bombing mission over Rabaul. On the return leg, the weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor. In a last radio message, the on board operator informed ground that the crew will abandon the aircraft that crashed near Weipa. Eight crew members were rescued by the crew of a Catalina on September 20. Unfortunately, the ninth occupant was killed as his parachute did not open.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Claude N. Burcky, pilot,
2nd Lt Augustin Rapisardi, copilot,
2nd Lt Donald C. Miller, bombardier,
1st Lt William F. Meenagh, navigator, †
Sgt Lloyd Chamberlain,
Pvt John Naglich,
S/Sgt Norris Reynolds,
Sgt Lawrence Johnson,
Sgt George Schmid.

The crew was returning to his base following a bombing mission to Lae. On landing at Lockhart River-Iron Range Airfield, a tyre burst. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The copilot was killed while all seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was written off.
Crew (22nd BG):
2nd Lt Walter Krell, pilot,
P/O Graham Brindley John Robertson, copilot. †

The crew left Mareeba Airport at 0400LT on a bombing mission to Milne Bay, PNG. After a successful mission, the crew was returning to his base in Queensland. During the attack over Milne Bay, the aircraft christened 'The Daylight Ltd' was hit by enemy fire and the brakes and flaps were unusable. On touchdown at Mareeba, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the right and collided with a tree. While all three crew members were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Kenneth Casper, pilot,
Sgt Arthur L. Richardson, radio operator,
Sgt Penwarden.

The crew was engaged in a test flight to control a new flare dropping mechanism. En route, a failure occurred on the mechanism, causing a flare to explode inside the cabin. Out of control, the aircraft crashed into the sea a mile off Cairns. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (19th BG):
Maj Dean C. Hoevet, pilot,
Sgt Coy Adams,
T/Sgt Stephen A. Androkovich,
2nd Lt William T. Chesser,
1st Lt Paul M. Lindsay,
T/Sgt Hermon T. Randall,
2nd Lt Arthur F. Sorrell,
2nd Lt Maxwell D. Stone,
1st Lt George W. Hammersmith,
S/Sgt Bernard Merker,
T/Sgt Ralph Tarod.

Shortly after a night take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 meters off shore. Three crewmen were killed while six others were rescued. A first B-17 registered 41-2636 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes earlier.
Crew:
Lt Paul D. Lindsay, pilot,
Lt Edward R. Budz, navigator, †
Sgt Ralph Dietz, air gunner,
Sgt Vernon O. Elder, air gunner,
S/Sgt Houston A. Rice, †
S/Sgt James E. Houchins. †

Shortly after a night take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 meters off shore. Two crewmen were killed while three others were rescued. A second B-17 registered 41-2655 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes later.

While on a training mission from Bundaberg, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea 1,5 mile off Bargara, Queensland. The aircraft sunk in 32 feet of water and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (8th SFTS):
F/Sgt Ronald Campbell Davies, pilot,
LAC Walter James Regan,
LAC Clifford James Lucas.

The crew was performing a training flight over the Northumberland Islands. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the Beverley Islands. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Lt Arthur E. Adams,
P/O John D. Power,
Sgt Brian Bright 1.

The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-191 and carrying a crew of four as well. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. The A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. While the aircraft was destroyed, three crew members were injured while the fourth occupant was killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
P/O L. Haliday, pilot 2,
Sgt Lancel Badman. †

The crew was involved in a combined training exercise with a second RAAF Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA registered A16-194 and carrying a crew of four as well. While cruising in the vicinity of Giru, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances. The A16-191 crashed in a dense mangrove and all four crew members were killed. The pilot of A16-194 was able to complete an emergency landing between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. While the aircraft was destroyed, three crew members were injured while the fourth occupant was killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
Sgt M. W. Cooper, pilot,
Sgt H. T. Gillam, copilot,
Sgt J. A. Herman, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O John L. Jewell, air gunner.